Jale, Age 9Okte Elementary​My class at Okte Elementary School went to Five Rivers in Delmar.The ride was pretty long and for that whole ride, I was sleeping on the bus. On the bus there were like 200 kids. The bus was so loud that I couldn’t hear Skyler, but Mrs. Sofko woke me up, so I grabbed my bag and got off the bus.The lady at Five Rivers split my class and Mr. Kuftiak’s class into groups. When my group got there we saw trees all around us. My group hiked down a trail and stopped at a river. The river was big enough for the whole group.The group changed into their swimsuits and their water shoes. The parents got in first, then the kids. It was so much fun! After that we went to have some lunch. Then we went to the gift shop. Then we went back to Okte.I love that trip. I especially loved when I caught four crayfish. Also the rest of the kids loved it too.

PrologueIt’s a beautiful, sunny, quiet, calm day. A deer hops around in a field, going to every plan, nibbling one or two leaves off each of the vegetation buffet entrees. Then out of the corner of her eye, she sees it. The highway! She slowly stalks towards the cool, calm pavement, as if she were a puma stalking its prey.Finally she is about to place a hoof on the cool surface…when suddenly the used-to –be calm pavement roared to life after a single pair of Yankee Trails Tour Busses whizzed past the clearing! Just as the deer fawn decide it was safe enough to cross the road she jumps back nearly hitting a tree! For the rest of that slow, lazy day for that fawn!

Chapter 1“Are we there yet?” I asked impatiently.“No, not yet,” my grandmother replied. “You’ve been asking that question for the past hour!”“It’s not my fault that I’m full of curiosity I mumbled to myself. Suddenly the bus swerved across the road! I was nearly thrown out of my seat! With my seat belt on! So anyways, there was a dear trying to cross the road (not a very smart deer).I woke with a start.“What? Huh? What’s going on?” I mumbled drearily.“Wake up! Get out of your bunk! The driver and guide said to get everyone up and out of bed. We’re gonna get going” Grandma said in a low voice.

“This early?” I wondered aloud. “He said he wanted everyone to be safe. Staying in your bunk is not safe.” She replied, still using her whisper.”“But Whyyyy?” I groaned.“Because we’re already off schedule.” She replied.“But, how come we have to get out of bed then?” I wondered.“Because if you don’t. You’ll be tossed around in this bus and then eventually. Thrown out of bed. That’s why,” She said back.Chapter 2“Remember, don’t get over-excited around the others.” Grandma said, chuckling a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “We don’t want to over-excite people.”“I don’t think I would be able to.” I replied.“Remember for these people, Halloween (or all Hallow’s Eve) is all year round! I’ve even heard that more adults dress up for ALL Hallows Eve (told you so!) and every regular day than most children!”Finally we were there at the Great Pumpkin Blaze. The 7000 Pumpkin Blaze! I was the first person on the bus to see the gigantic poster. Suddenly, the bus stopped. Then the doors creaked open with an eerie hiss. We got off the bus and walked up to the entrance and stared at the big King Jack-o-Lantern glaring down at us. We walked in and our face lit up from the light of 7000 Jack-o-Lanterns. We stared at all the glorious light that streamed across our faces. We started at them hard. We saw sea monsters, dinosaurs, snakes, shrunken heads, faces, grim reapers, scream dancing skeletons, bees, spiders a few working Jack-o Lantern-in-the-boxes and a working Grandfather clock!One other thing we saw was a moving, talking, fire breathing wyvern (from The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit)… Smaug! He was my favorite wyvern/dragon ever! I walked up to it and gawked for about half an hour. Then grandma nudged me and said we had to leave. It was sad, but I knew we would go someplace better next year!Chapter 3“I loved it so much!” I said. “I know, I know! But think about it, this way you know we’re going somewhere next year.” She replied. “Anyways, we have to leave.” We got into the bus and I fell asleep. After all, I did have a long day!”“Zzzzz wuzat…huh? Wait, what?” I said groggily, waking from my slumber.“We’re almost there,” Grandma whispered.“Oh, Yah!” I replied sleepily whispering, “almost home in bed!”“Yes, I know, I know,” she answered. “It’s only 9:52 PM.”“When do you think we’ll get home?” I questioned.“Possibly by 10:13, “she replied.“That late?” I wondered aloud. Then I drifted off to sleep again.Chapter 4“Finally, after a four hour bus ride. The Yankee Trails busses screeched to a halt. We were there. Finally back to our car. Well, almost. We said, “Thank you” and “Good Night” to the bus driver and get off to start our adventure back to the car. We walked blindly across the seemingly endless parking lot at Cross Gates Commons. Then… We saw it! Our jet-black/gray Jeep Liberty! We were almost home! Almost in bed! Grandma hit the un-lock button on the keys. Once twice, nothing. It was the wrong Jeep! We looked across to the other side of the parking lot, waiting to see the worst. There it was, sitting there blinking its lights at us. Then we started the long journey back to the car. On the way back, I thought to myself: what a wonderful day! Seeing the Jack-o-Lanterns, the bus ride, and the mall. We finally found the car and hopped in. I couldn’t wait to get into my warm, cozy bed in my own room!